Ghana’s agricultural output is facing a growing risk from counterfeit and poor-quality seeds, with experts cautioning that the trend could undermine farm incomes, productivity, and national food security if unchecked.
Dr. Yaw Osei-Asare, an agricultural economist at the University of Ghana, said many farmers are struggling with seeds that fail to deliver the promised results.
Reports show that while seed packages often claim germination rates of 99.99 percent, farmers record as low as 60% in practice. “When extrapolated over several acres, the financial losses are substantial and directly hit farmers’ pockets,” Dr. Osei-Asare explained.
He added that imported seeds are often unsuitable for Ghana’s climate, unlike locally multiplied varieties that are better adapted to the country’s diverse agro-ecological conditions.
He called for greater investment in domestic seed multiplication companies, citing an example along the Koforidua highway, and urged tighter border checks to stop unapproved imports.
“The private sector is struggling, but sustainable farming depends on supporting local seed producers. Around the world, governments subsidize farming, Ghana should do the same,” he stressed.
Bismark Owusu Nortey, Acting Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, echoed similar concerns.
He said that while complaints have slightly reduced since a 2020 survey revealed that 60% of farmers faced input challenges, up to four in ten still report problems with seed quality.
“Some products marketed as certified seeds are simply grains, with germination rates as low as 10 to 20 percent,” Mr. Nortey said.
He urged the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Department (PPRSD) to intensify market surveillance, impose stricter penalties on offenders, and speed up the rollout of a QR code labelling to improve seed traceability.
Both experts warned that unless Ghana strengthens enforcement, invests in reliable seed systems, and expands farmer education, counterfeit seeds will continue to drain resources, reduce yields, and threaten the country’s agricultural economy.
